WITCHFORD PARISH COUNCIL ALL PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Witchford Parish Council

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1 WITCHFORD PARISH COUNCIL ALL PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 1438 Witchford Parish Council Clerk: Mrs A Hodges, 88 West Fen Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB6 3AA Telephone Minutes of the Ordinary Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 5th November 2014 at 7.30 pm in St. Andrews Hall. Present: In attendance: Cllr A Shields (in the Chair), Cllr I Allen, Clr I Brand, Cllr R Braund, Cllr Braybrooke, Cllr D Ellis, Cllr G Jellicoe, Cllr G Matthias, Cllr H Palmer Public Session Two members of the public were present.they advised the Parish Council of their proposal for affordable housing on land adjacent to Mills Lane, working with a local housing association. They are currently in discussions with the District Council and any plans will come before the Parish Council in due course. 14/174 The Parish Council received and accepted apologies for absence from Cllr S Bromley-Allen 14/175 Cllr Braybrooke declared a pecuniary interest in item 186 and left the meeting during the discussion of that item. 14/176 The Minutes of the Ordinary Parish Council Meeting held on 1st October 2014 and of Parish Council Budget Meeting held on 15th October 2015 were taken as read and approved, with two typological corrections, and then signed by the Chairman. 14/177 The Parish Council noted with regret that Cllr Lacey has resigned as a Parish Councillor. The Clerk was asked to write to Cllr Lacey thanking her for her work as a Parish Councillor. This means that there is a vacancy on the Parish Council, which will be advertised as required. 14/178 Reports from District and County Councillors District Councillor Mr I Allen reported that he has received the allocations policy for the Swaffham Prior Community Land Trust and information from an independent consultant about cost projections for affordable housing in Witchford. These will both be circulated to the Parish Council for information. Cllr Allen also advised that the District Council Corporate Governance and Finance Committee will be meeting on 6th November 2014, and that the proposed new leisure centre and Downham Road Ely and Littleport Leisure Centre are on the agenda. 14/179 Correspondence: i) In response to the Parish Council s earlier request that the need for the traffic island at the entrance to the HWRC be reviewed Cambridgeshire County Council highways have advised that as this is not an accident black spot it is very unlikely to receive funding from the County Council Road Safety team. The Parish Council agreed that it would re-send its original letter on this matter and ask for responses to the individual points raised, and would also write to Haddenham and Wilburton Parish Councils for their comments. 1439

2 ii) The Parish Council noted a reply from East Cambridgeshire District Council to its previous letter regarding the Agenda and Minutes of the District Council Asset Development Subcommittee. The Parish Council agreed that it would write to the District Council to request that where matters requiring commercial confidentiality were to be on an agenda, then at least the agenda should show that a matter in a particular parish was to be discussed, so that local people and the Parish Council would be aware. iii) Information provided by residents about lack of access to superfast broadband have been raised with the County Council Connecting Cambridgeshire team and a reply received. It appears that some internet providers do not use the BT Openreach fibre network, which is currently the only fibre network in the village. Other issues relate to problems of capacity at the BT Openreach cabinet (cabinet 9). Technical work is needed to increase capacity at this cabinet. The Parish Council agreed to put the reply from Connecting Cambridgeshire onto the Witchford Online website for residents information. iv) A letter was received from East Cambridgeshire District Council in response to the Parish Council s previous letter expresssing its concerns about the way housing allocations were referenced in the report on the Gladman Field End Planning Application considered by the District Council s Planning Committee of 6th August The Parish Council considered that the District Council s response does not address its concerns about its attempts to address the housing under-supply in the local plan by loading a disproportionate number of new houses onto one village. The Parish Council agreed that it would write back to the District Council on this matter. The Parish Council will also ask the District Council to respond to its comment that the housing under-supply was not included in the officer report to the 6th August Planning Committee meeting as a reason for recommending approval of the Gladman planning application at Haddenham. The Parish Council will ask the District Council to withdraw its comments that a reason for recommending approval for the Gladman application at Field End Witchford is that it will contribute to meeting the housing-supply demand; if the District Council is unwilling to do so, then the Parish Council will request that the District Council asks the Local Plan Inspector for clarification as to his intended meaning on this point. v) A response was received to the Parish Council s Freedom of Information request on the County Council s subsidy for bus service No9. vi) The Parish Council considered a consultation letter from the Local Government Boundary Commission about the upcoming Electoral Review of Cambridgeshire County Council electoral divisions. The Parish Council agreed to set up a Working Party to review the Parish Boundary and to recommend a response. vii) A letter was received from a village resident about the delivery of The Witchfordian, complaining that it is often late and received after events advertised in the magazine have taken place. The Parish Counci agreed to write to The Witchfordian to ask if there is any possibility that publication could be brought forward to earlier in the month. However, The Witchfordian is entirely independent and the Parish Council has no control over 1440

3 this.the Parish Council understands that the newsletter is delivered by volunteers so The Witchfordian itself has no control over when they deliver it. Audit and Legal 14/180 The required forms to add new Councillors as Parish Council bank signatories were completed. The Parish Council reviewed the need for three signatories to Parish Council cheques in line with recent changes in legislation. The Council s current Financial Regulations require three signatories to Parish Council cheques, although since 1972 the legal requirement has been that only two signatories are required. It is not knowns why Witchford Parish Council has been in this anomalous position. In March 2014, the legal requirement for two signatories was removed by Government Order (SI 14/580), so that now only one signatory is required by law for Parish Council cheques, although two signatories remains good practice. In light of this, the Parish Council resolved to amend its instructions to Lloyds Bank such that only two signatories will be required for Witchford Parish Council cheques, and that the Parish Council s Financial Regulations would be amended accordingly. Community 141/180 The Parish Council discussed the Community Land Trust public meeting held on 15th October The Parish Council agreed to write to all those who had attended the meeting on 15th October advising that the Barton Close site is no longer available for development by a Community Land Trust and asking if they are interested in setting up a CLT for Witchford. 14/181 The Parish Council noted that East Cambridgeshire District Council has made a Tree Preservation Order for three ash trees on the roadside verge opposite Needham s Farm 186 Main Street. The Parish Council agreed that it would write to the District Council Tree Officer in support of this order. 14/182 To discuss traffic calming issues and agree any actions The Parish Council noted that the new traffic island at the Ely Road entrance to the village was installed on 21st October The design and location of the traffic measures was undertaken by the County Council s Highways Engineers. Although it had requested some traffic calming measures at the entrance to the village, the Parish Council deferred to the professional engineers s opinion on the details. Cllrs Allen and Jellicoe reported on the presentation they had given to the County Council Local Minor Highways Improvemend Fund Panel on 22nd October The Parish Council is bidding for traffic calming measures at the Sutton Road entrance to the village. The Parish Council will set up a Working Party meeting in January to review the Parish Traffic Calming Plan. Suggestions for additions to the plan include: a blue cycleway sign directing users leaving the village to the cyclepath on the north side of the road towards Ely, a 20mph limit on Main Street, and road narrowing on Main Street near the Millennium Wood. 14/183 The Parish Council agreed to invite the Chairman of the WPFA Village Hall Committee to discuss progress with the village hall improvements. 1441

4 14/184 To consider a request for short-term loan from Social Club. The Parish Council has reviewed the Social Club accounts and has taken advice from the Society of Local Council Clerks. The Parish Council may make a loan as long as it is to a notfor-profit organisation providing a recreational service that the Parish Council itself has the powers to do under s19 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act The Parish Council voted on the proposal to make a short-term loan of 2000 to the Social Club repayable as a lump sum within 12 months. The result of the vote was 7 in favour, 1 against and 1 abstention. 14/185 Play area inspections. Both play areas have been inspected weekly by East Cambridgeshire District Council and checklists provided to the Clerk. Bedwell Hey Lane - no issues arising Common Road - issues relating to the wear and tear at the site are raised. The Parish Council is aware of these and is planning the replacement of the play equipment. Highways 14/186 The Parish Council discussed the meeting held between Parish Council representatives and owners of land adjacent to Mills Lane on 29th October Cllr Braybrooke left the meeting for the duration of this discussion. The Parish Council voted on the proposal to erect gates at Mills Lane for a 12 month trial period according to the terms of the Parish Council s letter of 4th October The result of the vote was 7 in favour and 1 abstention. The Clerk will write to the adjacent landowners advising them that this work will be carried out in the near future. Cllrs Jellicoe and Palmer were delegated by the Parish Council to organise this. 14/187 To consider whether the Parish Council should take over grasscutting on the A142 safeway on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council This item has arisen from the Parish Council s previous letter to County Councillor Bill Hunt about grasscutting at the A142 Safeway. Cllr Hunt suggested that the County Council might be able to transfer its budget for this work to the Parish Council for the Parish Council to organise the grasscutting. This is on a similar model to the grass highway verges in the village which are now cut by the Parish Council s contractor with the County Council making an annual payment for this. Cllr Jellicoe reported that he had met the County Council highways officer on site. The County Council will arrange for the vegetation to be cut back on the eastern safeway and to sort out drainage problems at a point approximately 200m from the Catchwater Drain. The County Council will offer the Parish Council a budget for managing the grasscutting and vegetation clearance at the safeways on an ongoing basis, and also for cutting the grass at the five locations where public rights of way cross the bypass. 14/188 The Parish Council confirmed that, in light of the County Council Rights of Way Officer s statement that they would not support a Traffic Regulation Order on Sandpit Drove, it will instead be investigating options for physical measures which could act as a psychological deterrent to motorists. The Parish Council thanked all those who had written in to support its attempt to get a Traffic Regulation Order imposed at Sandpit Drove. 1442

5 Planning 14/189 The Parish Council noted the following: 14/00917/FUL Two storey rear extension 33 Field End Planning permission granted 14/00925/FUL Refurbishment of 9no roofs (retrospective) Planning permission granted 14/00835/FUL Demolition of existing bungalow and outbuildings and construction of replacement bungalow and garage Permission granted TPO E/18/00 15 Sutton Road Consent granted T1 & T2 Poplars - fell to ground level 14/190 The Parish Council agreed to invite the relevant Cambridgeshire County Council to a future meeting to discuss the County Council Highways Team s comments on the Gladman planning application at Field End. Councillor reports 14/191 i) Streetlighting Units No49 Main Street and No8 Orton Drive were reported as on during the day. Two new street lights have been provided by the Parish Council on the footway between Wheats Close and Granta Close. In response to a consultation from Cambridgeshire County Council, Parish Council agreed that it would retain the current system of paying for street lighting energy via the County Council. ii) Grasscutting An extra cuts at playing field was approved. iii) Open Spaces Deep ruts on public footpath No7 Wilburton have been reported to the County Council Rights of Way Officer. An additional guard rail has been installed on the gate leading from footpath No13 into the Millennium Wood. The gate at footpath No12 has been widened by the landowner. Access for pedestrians using the footpath has been retained. Cllr Jellicoe attended the County Council Rights of Way Area meeting on 28th October The budget for rights of way maintenance is very much reduced, but path problems should still be reported via the online reporting form. The Parish Council s hedgecutting contractor is cutting hedges at the Manor Road allotments, the wildflower meadow and Bedwell Hey Lane. A maintenance schedule for the rights of way in the village is being written up.

6 The Witchford Walks waymarks have been produced The Parish Council has contacted East Cambridgeshire District Council to request that litter exposed along the verge of Witchford Road towards the A142 to be cleared, that litter picking takes place along Grunty Fen Road and that litter along the A142 between the Little Chef and the Lancaster Way Business Park to be cleared. The Parish Council has written to County Councillor Hunt about issues at the north end of byway No11 (Sandpit Drove) including concerns about encroachment, drainage and tree management. Ruts on the footpath on the Grunty Fen Catchwater Drain bank will be reported to the County Council. The Parish Council will invoice the County Council for wildflower seed to replenish Sandpit Drove wildflower meadow. iv) Community The Parish Council has submitted its objection to the Gladman development at Field End to the Planning Inspectorate. The Parish Council has registered with East Cambridgeshire District Council s Head of Planning its request that infrastructure contributions received by the District Council from the development at Sedgeway Equestrian Centre are allocated to Witchford Village Hall improvement project. Questionnaires about bus service No9 completed by residents have been forwarded to the County Council. Copies of the questionnaire for anyone else who wishes to complete it are available in Ely Library. The damaged dog waste bin on Victoria Green has been repaired by Cllrs Ellis and Jellicoe. By carrying out this work themselves, this saved the Parish Council over 130 in extra parts. The Parish Council has advised East Cambridgeshire District Council that the benches on Victoria Green are in need of maintenance. The Parish Council has written to Sanctuary Housing asking that rubbish on the track to the rear of houses in Manor Close be cleared. A notice has been placed in The Witchfordian calling for any ideas from residents for items that could be added to the Parish Traffic Calming Plan. Any ideas should be sent to the Clerk. The Parish Council has asked East Cambridgeshire District Council to carry out maintenance work on the benches on Victoria Green. The Post Box on Common Road has finally been replaced after continued lobbying of Royal Mail by the Parish Council and residents. The Parish Council asked the Clerk to write to Sir James Paice MP to thank him for his assistance. Cllr Palmer will represent the Parish Council at Witchford Village College s Remembrance Day Ceremony on Tuesday 11th November. Diseased branches on the coronation tree in Broadway have been cut back by the Parish Council. The Parish Council Minutes from will be uploaded onto the Witchford Online website.

7 The black rubbish bag and clothing at Granny s End is still there despite being reported to the District Council; this will be reported again, as will the tyres dumped by the Grunty Fen Catchwater Drain on byway No Cllr Allen confirmed that the District Council will only maintain the section of Manor Court Road that it owns; this is believed to be only a proportion of the road and it is not known who owns the rest of the road. There are concerns about the future of Dial-A-Ride. The Speedwatch survey on 22nd October 2014 registered 17 out of 268 vehicles being driven at speeds in excess of 35mph leaving the village towards Ely. v) Wood Nothing to report vii) Cycleway Nothing further to report 14/192 Finance: It was agreed that the bank reconciliation as at 30th September and the clerk s monthly expenses be noted. The cheques on the schedule of cheques were approved. There being no further business, the meeting closed at p.m. Date of next Parish Council meeting Wednesday 3rd December 2014 Signed:.. Chairman Date:..